JACKSONVILLE – The news was expected as it was unwanted.
Sen'Derrick Marks, a Jaguars defensive leader on the field, in the locker room and in the statistics, will miss the final seven games of the 2015 regular season, Head Coach Gus Bradley said Tuesday.
Marks, the Jaguars' sacks leader a year ago with 8.5, sustained a torn triceps in a 22-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in Baltimore. The team announced the injury Monday, with Bradley not calling the injury season-ending at the time while Marks sought a second opinion.
Bradley confirmed Tuesday that Marks will be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
"He's going to be on IR," Bradley said as the Jaguars (3-6) prepared to play the Tennessee Titans (2-7) at EverBank Field Thursday at 8:25 p.m.
Marks, the team's starting three-technique defensive tackle, spent the offseason rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He had reconstructive surgery on that injury in January and returned in Week 5 of the regular season.
"It's very unfortunate, because he's a leader on this team and a leader for this D-line," defensive end/tackle Tyson Alualu said. "Our hearts definitely go out to him, but it's one of those things: We know he's going to come back stronger and have a better year next year."
Marks, a disruptive, penetrating force on the interior, did not have a sack or a quarterback hurry in four games this season, but teammates said he had appeared quicker and more disruptive in recent weeks. That helped the Jaguars hold the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens to 29 and 89 yards, respectively.
"It was like you were seeing the old Sen' coming back," defensive tackle Roy Miller said. "He was making plays in the backfield, slipping off people. It just sucks to go through the situation and pretty much see him have to go through the same process all over again. It sucks. It hurts to watch."
Miller, who rehabilitated a knee injury while Marks rehabbed the ACL in the offseason, said he hopes Marks' injury is a blessing in disguise.
"I think it will give him time to be 100 percent on his knee, which I think is important," Miller said. "It might be more important than the triceps. It might be a blessing in disguise to get his footwork down, get his confidence back … just lift and get stronger."
Also around the Jaguars Tuesday, the following players missed practice:
Marks, tight end Nic Jacobs (hamstring), running back Bernard Pierce (calf) and running back T.J. Yeldon (foot). All four players sustained their injuries Sunday, with backup Denard Robinson likely starting if Yeldon can't play Thursday.
Take a look at images as the Jaguars returned to the practice field to prepare for their Thursday Night Football matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
Defensive tackle Michael Bennett (hamstring), safety James Sample (shoulder), linebacker Dan Skuta (groin) and wide receiver Bryan Walters (concussion) worked limited Tuesday. Bennett, Sample and Skuta missed Sunday's victory over Baltimore, while Walters was injured late in that game.
Bradley said he expects Skuta to be a game-time decision Thursday. Rookie Thurston Armbrister started in his place Sunday.
Walters has been cleared to participate in non-contact practice, but he remains in the concussion protocol program.
Defensive end Chris Clemons worked full, as did running back Toby Gerhart (groin), wide receiver Rashad Greene (thumb), tight end Julius Thomas (abdomen), defensive tackle Roy Miller and wide receiver Allen Hurns (foot/thigh).
Hurns missed practice Monday to see a specialist in Philadelphia because of the thigh/core issue. That was a prescheduled visit and not relating to a new injury, and said he expects to play Thursday.
Wide receiver Marqise Lee also worked full Tuesday. He had missed five consecutive games with a hamstring injury before playing 25-to-26 plays Sunday, having worked full last Friday after limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday.
The Jaguars went through a walkthrough practice Tuesday, a practice similar to what they have Friday on a normal game week. They had a light practice late Monday and will have a walkthrough Wednesday before playing the Titans in their only Thursday game this season.
"Everything we're doing this week we're doing with the mindset of getting players where they play hard and fast on Thursday," Bradley said. "You see a little bit of a different tempo, a lot of mental parts of it. We have to streamline it because of the short period of time, but it's all coming together.
